The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-03-09

decisive trial were not great. There
were any number of one-eye men will
ing to try ii IL assured of positive sue
cess, but to submit to an experiment.
and delicate and difficult one at that,
was an entirely different thing. In
consequence the brightness of the pros
pect for making the test began to grow
decidedly dim. About this time re-
view of the article in the Medical Re-
cord CHANGED to fall under the eye Of
Mr.. Williams. He had lost the sight
of his right eye when lad of thirteen
in patriotic outburst of youthful en-
thusiasm attendant upon the celebra-
ton of the Fourth of July. Mr.. Will
liams is young man under thirty,
with the excellent physique, good
habits and abnormal nerve that usually
distinguish newspaper men among the
ordinary mortals they are compelled
to mingle with. He at once concluded
to give the rabbit chance. He noti-
fed the New York physicians of his
desire to assist the cause of science,
and arrived in this city on the 9th OF
January last. His eye was carefully
examined and it was found that tho
conditions were favorable for making a
test case.
The two weeks prior to the arrival OF
the patient had been occupied in at
tempting to secure rabbit with hazel
eyes and of the largest size. A fine
specimen of the variety known as the
Belgian hare was finally selected The
eyes were just shade darker and only
two.twenty-iifth of an inch smaller
than the uninjured one of the patient.
The time of the operation was fixed for
2 o'clock on the afternoon OF Feb. l.
Every prccaution had been taken TO in.
sure success if it was possible. The
physicians had even tested their knowl-
edge and skill upon rs many fresh
cadavers as could be procured at the
college dissecting-room. The opera
ton was performed without slip, with
the result already made known.
The rabbit was placed upon small
table and the patient upon lounge a
few feet distant. The former was then
subjected to the influence of ether, five
ounces of the drug and ten minutes
time being required to effect the result.
The ether was then administered to MIR.
Williams. While this was taking effect
the right eye of the rabbit was being
operated upon. The globe of the eye
was rapidly and carefully separated
from the conjunctva. or sac holding it,
the muscles severed and the eye left in
the conjunctival sac only attached to
the optic nerve. This was done to keep
the eye alive until the instant of trans
plantation. The surgeons next turned
their attention to the patient. Aspiring
speculum was introduced under the lids
of the right eye to give perfect freedom
for the operation. The globe was sep
arated from the conjunctiva and black
silk stitches or sutures were carefully
passed through either side. As the
muscles were severed the four principal
or superior ones were also held by the
silk sutures. The optic nerve was now
the only connecting link. The crisis
was now at hand. Owing to the fact
that the optic nerve extends directly
from the rear of the eyeball it Is
impossible to see or get hold Of
this nerve while the globe of the eye
remains in the conjunctival envelope.
To overcome this difficulty DR.. May had
invented combination forceps and
needle especially for the occasion, with
an internal concave circumference cor
responding to the SIZE of the optic
nerve, fitted with fine teeth, with an
opening one-eighth of an inch above
the termination to admit the passage
of threaded needle, this latter being
delicately rounded, curved almost at
right angles, the point flattened from
side to side and provided with fine
opening. With the special forceps the
optic nerve was grasped close to the
eyeball and held while it was transiixed
by the needle passing through it with a
catgut suture. The edges of the con-
junctival, the lour principal muscles
and the optic nerve were now held in
place by the ends Of these sutures or
threads, while the eyeball was quickly
removed.
The optic nerve of the rabbits eye
was now severed. catgut sCture pass
ed through the portion attached to the
eyeball and the eye transferred to its
new home in the vacant conjunctival
sac of the patient. One minutes time
was occupied in the transfer. The two
optic nerves were drawn closely togeth
er by means of the catgut sutures, then
firmly tied. The silk sutures holding
the muscles were treated in a similar
manner, then the conjunctiva was
drawn around the rabbits eye and
stitched to the margin of the conjunc.
tiva left surrounding the transplanted
globe. Ten stitches were used in the
operation. all o. black silk thread ex-
cepting those passing ,iroagh the OPP